2004-2019 Jaguar XJ Problems: 33 Known Issues

Owners of XJ 3.0D models describe sudden bottom-end failures: the oil pressure warning comes on, a knocking noise starts and the car goes into limp mode. In the reported cases a main or rod bearing had spun, or the crankshaft had snapped. Diesel engine rebuild specialists describe the same failure on this engine and link it to weak points in the compact crankshaft design; owners of Land Rovers with the same engine also report main bearing shells rotating and blocking their oil feed. It affects only XJ models with the 3.0-litre V6 diesel (306DT), sold as the XJ 3.0D outside North America. It does not apply to the 3.0 supercharged petrol V6 or the 5.0 V8. Owners report it on cars of different ages and mileages, including a 2016 XJ 3.0D Portfolio.

The 5.0-litre AJ133 V8 fitted to the X351 has a widely documented timing drive weakness. The hydraulic tensioner's hardened steel plunger bears against a guide rail with a soft aluminium core and a plastic wear face. The plunger cuts a groove into that face; the ratchet that is supposed to hold tension with the engine off then cannot, and the chain slaps on start-up before oil pressure builds. There are no fault codes at the rattle stage, which is exactly why it gets ignored. Left alone, the chain can jump a tooth — giving a restricted-performance warning and misfire codes — or break, which on this interference engine destroys it. Jaguar Land Rover revised the timing components progressively, with the setup substantially reworked by around 2015-2016, so late facelift cars are lower risk than early ones.

The 2.7-litre twin-turbo TDV6 (Ford/PSA-derived 276DT) fitted to the 2005-2009 X350/X358 XJ diesel has two linked bottom-end weaknesses distinct from the later 3.0 306DT story. The oil pump housing has a thin section where the front timing-belt tensioner mounts; it cracks under load (owners most often report it after a timing belt change), the pump loses drive or pressure, and the engine is starved of oil. Separately, the crankshaft itself has weak sections between the rod journals and counterweights and can snap, usually after spun main/big-end bearings; forum threads document failures at 45-65k miles on otherwise maintained cars. Diesel dilution of the oil (the engine even carries an oil-dilution warning), extended oil-change intervals, and the rear-mounted belt that often never gets changed all contribute. Failure is usually terminal: a bare replacement engine is the normal repair.

2019 model-year XJs with the 3.0 supercharged V6 or 5.0 V8 petrol engines received crankshaft pulley retaining bolts manufactured out of specification; hydrogen embrittlement lets the bolt crack and fracture. If it lets go the front pulley and accessory drive are lost, the engine can stop suddenly and the engine can be destroyed. The same batch of bolts affected 2019 F-PACE, F-TYPE, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Velar and Discovery. NHTSA campaign 19V039000; Jaguar recall H181; owner notification from 11 February 2019.

Owners of 5.0 supercharged V8 cars describe a whine or grinding noise from the supercharger that rises with engine speed, sounding like a worn wheel bearing, and in some cases play in the supercharger pulley. They trace it to worn bearings in the supercharger snout (nose), which owners describe as sealed and not serviceable. Jaguar's bulletin for 2010-onward XJs tells technicians to replace the supercharger if the pulley feels rough when turned or there is excessive whine. This is a different fault from the supercharger isolator rattle. It affects only XJ models with the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 (XJ and XJL Supercharged, XJR, Supersport, XJR575). It does not apply to the 3.0 supercharged V6 or diesel models. Jaguar's bulletin (reissued as JTB00349NAS2) covers 2010-onward XJs.

Owners of AJ-V8 XJs report oil at the joint between the engine and the transmission and discuss whether the rear crankshaft (rear main) seal is the source. Owners also point out that other leaks above the joint, such as a weeping oil gallery plug above the rear crank seal, can run down to the same place and mimic a rear main seal leak. This applies to 2004-2009 XJ (X350 generation) with the 4.2 V8, naturally aspirated or supercharged; one linked report is from an earlier 2000 XJ8 with the related 4.0 V8. Summarized from the owner reports linked here; not a manufacturer finding. Your vehicle's equipment and history may differ; a technician must confirm the cause.

On cars with the 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8, the engine may start roughly or stall after a hot soak of 15-20 minutes. Jaguar says the cause may be a fueling calibration that is not robust for winter-blend 10% ethanol fuel. Applies to: 2006-2009 model year XJ (X350) with the 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8, VIN range G49701-H30057, North American market (Jaguar bulletin JTB00268, current issue JTB00268NAS3). The bulletin applies to the naturally aspirated 4.2 only, so supercharged cars (XJR, Super V8) are not covered.

Jaguar warns that cleaning this throttle body can carry contamination into its bearings and remove necessary lubricant. Oils, grease or sealants on its electrical connectors can also cause damage. This service warning does not establish a common failure, a diagnosis or a need for replacement.

A separate component and a separate failure from supercharger nose cone bearing wear: the AJ133 supercharger drive uses a spring-loaded torsional isolator on the blower's nose pulley to damp driveline shock. The end of the original spring bears directly against plastic, and over time the spring wears grooves into its support shaft. The resulting backlash produces a loud, irregular clattering that owners consistently describe as marbles rattling in a tin can — loudest at idle, on overrun, and as the engine shuts down. It is easily confused with timing chain rattle, but this one is present at hot idle rather than only on cold start-up. Jaguar Land Rover issued Technical Bulletin JTB00349v2 covering 2010-onward X351 XJ vehicles with the 5.0-litre supercharged V8, and released a revised isolator whose spring end seats in a metal cup instead of against plastic. Owners report onset from around 50,000 miles.

Owners on XJ (X351) forums describe engine oil leaking from the brake vacuum pump, which the engine drives at the front of the engine on the 3.0 supercharged V6 and 5.0 V8. Owners and specialist shops say the pump's seals degrade over time and let oil seep from the pump's mounting flange or body seam, leaving oil residue on the engine and drips underneath. One owner reports oil from the pump dripping onto the alternator. These owner reports come from 2010-2019 Jaguar XJ (X351) cars with the 3.0 supercharged V6 or 5.0 V8, including the 2016 XJ R-Sport 3.0 supercharged V6. This is not a recall or bulletin; not every car leaks.

A safety recall covering certain 2010-2011 and 2017 model year Jaguar XJ (X351) vehicles. When the car was connected to Jaguar Land Rover approved diagnostic equipment and a software update to the Restraints Control Module did not complete successfully, the RCM calibration could default to a pre-set condition rather than the correct one for the vehicle. In that state the frontal airbags still deploy in a frontal impact, but at impact thresholds above those required to provide the intended occupant protection — meaning the airbags may not deploy as required, which Jaguar says can lead to increased injuries in a crash. This is a dealer-service-induced defect rather than a wear item, so it can be present on a low-mileage, well-kept car, and the owner has no symptom to notice.

In certain XJ vehicles, the front passenger airbag initiator may fail to ignite. The airbag may then fail to deploy when required in a crash, increasing injury risk. It affects certain 2016–2017 Jaguar XJ vehicles built September 12 through October 26, 2016, covered by recall 16V943 (Jaguar J080). The model year, engine or trim alone does not confirm inclusion.

The virtual instrument cluster can intermittently go blank, removing displayed information and increasing crash risk. It affects North American 2016–2017 Jaguar XJ (X351) cars built at Castle Bromwich with VIN suffixes W03265–W12691, covered by recall 17V678 (Jaguar H056). A Jaguar dealer must confirm eligibility.

Owners report warning messages and unrelated electrical faults on the X350. Causes owners report or suspect include a weak battery (one owner's warning message was cured by a new battery), corroded or loose ground (earth) points such as the studs at the front of the engine bay, and, in one case, the fuse box in the boot. Applies to: 2004-2009 XJ (X350 generation); owner reports include a 2003 XJ6, a 2006 Super V8 and a diesel XJ. Summarized from the owner reports linked here; not a manufacturer finding. Your vehicle's equipment and history may differ; a technician must confirm the cause.

On a small number of XJs that had already had the instrument cluster replaced, the replacement cluster has a fault: the air suspension unit "spikes" every 99 minutes, the cluster stays awake for about 30 minutes each time, and this may drain the battery. Applies to: Only specific 2005-2009 model year XJ (X350) cars in VIN range G45258-H31488 that are on Jaguar's affected-VIN list for service action K134: 67 US cars (service bulletin 6-202USA) and 5 Canadian cars (technical bulletin K134NAS1). Other cars in that VIN range are not affected.

Jaguar describes InControl Touch Pro problems on 2016-and-later XJs from VIN V90866: slow system start-up, a blank touch screen (and rear-seat screens if fitted), live apps not working, the navigation route lost at shutdown, and no satellite-radio audio at start-up. Jaguar says these may be caused by an Infotainment Master Controller (IMC) software issue. A later service action's software update targets system resets, blank screens, a frozen reverse-camera image, and media and Bluetooth problems. It affects North American 2016-2017 Jaguar XJ (X351) models with InControl Touch Pro from VIN V90866 onwards, covered by bulletin JTB00496NAS2 (2016 onwards) and service action K437NAS1 (2016-2017). A Jaguar dealer must confirm whether the software has already been applied to a specific VIN.

Owners of 4.2 V8 XJs report the plastic thermostat housing cracking and leaking coolant, with the low-coolant warning or overheating as the first sign. Owners also name the expansion (overflow) tank and its small pipe connections as a leak point; Jaguar service message SSM51717 confirms the expansion tank stub pipe can split on XJ (X350) up to the end of the 2009 model year. Applies to: 2004-2009 XJ (X350 generation) with the 4.2 V8; owner reports include a 2004 Vanden Plas, a 2005 XJ8L and a 2006 Super V8. The expansion tank stub pipe message (SSM51717) covers all X350 XJs up to the end of 2009 MY. Summarized from the owner reports linked here; not a manufacturer finding. Your vehicle's equipment and history may differ; a technician must confirm the cause. Mileage when it happened, as stated in the linked owner reports: 20,000 miles on a 2004 and 108,000 miles on a 2005.

Owners on XJ (X351) forums with the 3.0 supercharged V6 describe coolant loss traced to the water pump (at its weep hole or the seal behind the pulley) or to plastic coolant pipes, including a crossover pipe, that sit underneath the supercharger. Owners note that the engine undertray can trap a slow leak and engine heat can evaporate it, so coolant may go missing without an obvious drip. These reports come from owners of 2013-2019 Jaguar XJ (X351) cars with the supercharged 3.0 V6, including the 2016 XJ R-Sport. This is not a recall.

Some fuel tanks were not made to specification: the seals for the fuel delivery module, jet pump module and/or cluster valve may not be properly retained in the tank. This can turn on the malfunction indicator lamp or cause a fuel odor, and if the fuel is above those openings it may leak onto the ground, most likely after the tank has been filled. Applies to: Certain 2006 and 2007 model year XJ (X350) petrol cars built at Browns Lane and Castle Bromwich from July 9, 2005 through August 31, 2006, VIN range SAJWA82BX6SG49701 to SAJWA82B97SH13485 (recall 06V358, Jaguar R726). 2007 model year cars built after August 31, 2006 are outside this build range.

Owners report the fuel gauge reading erratically on the X350, dropping fast, reading empty or reading past full, then recovering. The fuel level senders are mounted on the in-tank pump modules. Applies to: 2004-2009 XJ (X350 generation); owner reports include X350 sedans and a 2004 XJR. Summarized from the owner reports linked here; not a manufacturer finding. Your vehicle's equipment and history may differ; a technician must confirm the cause. Mileage when it happened, as stated in the linked owner reports: 196,000 miles on a 2004.

Jaguar recalled certain 2004 XJ vehicles built at Brown's Lane January 2, 2003–January 19, 2004. An undertray pad can retain dirt and moisture against brake pipes and unions, damaging corrosion protection. Corrosion can cause fluid leaks, longer pedal travel and reduced braking; failure of both circuits can cause complete loss of service braking. This recall does not establish the same defect on 2005–2009 vehicles.

Jaguar says the park brake warning lamps may light and the electric park brake may fail to operate correctly if it is not re-calibrated after work on the park brake actuator, park brake cables or rear brake calipers, including a rear brake pad change. Codes C1129-39 or C1129-3A may be stored. Applies to: XJ (X350) 2003-2009 model years, VIN G00001-H30057, North American market (bulletin JTB00208NAS2, which also covers the XF, X351 XJ, XK and S-TYPE).

Owners on XJ (X351) forums describe 'Air Suspension Fault' messages, a compressor that runs frequently or gets hot, and the car sitting low. Owners say the compressor itself is often not the root cause: a leaking air spring makes it run constantly until it wears out, and a sticking compressor relay can burn out a replacement compressor. These owner reports come from 2010-2019 Jaguar XJ (X351) cars, including the 2016 XJ R-Sport. This is not a recall; Jaguar technical bulletin JTB00438NAS1 covers X351 cars where the air suspension warning comes on because the compressor electrical connector and compressor are damaged.

Owners of the X350-family XJ report the "Air suspension fault" message, a corner of the car sitting low, and in one case air audibly escaping from a rear strut. Owners traced it to leaking air struts (shocks); one owner's message came and went while driving. Applies to: 2004-2009 XJ (X350 family) with the factory air suspension; owner reports include a 2006 XJ8L, a 2006 Vanden Plas, a 2005 Super V8 and a 2008 XJ8. Summarized from the owner reports linked here; not a manufacturer finding. Your vehicle's equipment and history may differ; a technician must confirm the cause.

Owners report a clunking or knocking noise from the front suspension traced to worn bushings in the front suspension arms (wishbones), upper or lower, or in the lower shock-absorber mounts. One owner was first quoted complete lower arms; the dealer later found worn, leaking upper arms instead. Applies to: 2004-2009 XJ (X350 generation); owner reports include a 2004 XJ8 at 35,000 miles (worn front upper arms after an initial lower-arm diagnosis) and a 2004 XJR with worn lower shock bushes and a leaking front arm bushing. Summarized from the owner reports linked here; not a manufacturer finding. Your vehicle's equipment and history may differ; a technician must confirm the cause. Mileage when it happened, as stated in the linked owner reports: 35,000 miles on a 2004.

Owners report water getting into the boot, leaving the carpet damp and water standing in the floor channels. In the linked 2003 X350 thread, owners traced it to water running off the boot lid when it is opened in the rain, and hosepipe tests found the seals watertight. Other entry points worth checking on any boot leak include the rear lamp cluster seals and the boot-lid seal. This applies to 2004-2009 XJ (X350 generation); the openable owner reports are from 2003 X350s. Summarized from the owner reports linked here; not a manufacturer finding. Your vehicle's equipment and history may differ; a technician must confirm the cause.

Owners report corrosion bubbling under the paint of the aluminium body, most often along the front edge of the boot lid by the rear window, at the bottom corners of the doors and at the pillars. Owners describe it as cosmetic but unsightly if ignored. Applies to: 2004-2009 XJ (X350 generation); owner reports include 2003 cars and a 2007 XJR. Summarized from the owner reports linked here; not a manufacturer finding. Your vehicle's equipment and history may differ; a technician must confirm the cause.

Owners report transmission fluid leaking from the ZF six-speed automatic, most often at the plastic electrical connector sleeve at the rear of the case and at the plastic sump (pan), which has the filter built in. Applies to: 2004-2009 XJ (X350 generation) with the ZF 6HP26 automatic; owner reports include 2005 XJ8L and Vanden Plas models. Summarized from the owner reports linked here; not a manufacturer finding. Your vehicle's equipment and history may differ; a technician must confirm the cause.

The X351 uses the JaguarDrive rotary selector that rises out of the centre console when the engine starts and retracts when it shuts down. The mechanism that lifts the dial fails, leaving the selector stuck flush in the console. Because gear selection is by-wire through that dial, a selector that will not rise means the car cannot be shifted out of Park, which strands owners in car parks and on driveways. Early symptoms are intermittent: the dial rises on the second start attempt, or rises then immediately drops back down, which owners dismiss as a quirk until it fails outright. The same rotary selector design is shared with the XF and XK of the period, which is why the fault has such a large documented owner base.

On 6,475 selected US-market X351 XJs built between 28 July 2009 and 3 November 2010, the front wiper arm-to-spindle nuts were not torqued to specification. The arms can slip on the spindle, lose synchronisation, clash with each other and detach, wiping out visibility in rain — a non-compliance with FMVSS 104. NHTSA campaign 10V578000. Owners on the forums reported wipers slapping each other or stopping mid-sweep before the recall was announced.

Owners on XJ (X351) forums report misting inside the LED tail lamps and, in some cars, water collecting in the bottom of the lamp. Owners say light misting can be normal, noting the owner manual addresses it, because the LEDs run too cool to dry the housing. Standing water is different: owners trace it to a leak, most often a hairline crack or opening along the welded seam between the clear and red sections of the lamp housing. These reports come from owners of 2010-2019 Jaguar XJ (X351) cars, including the 2016 XJ R-Sport. This is not a recall; Jaguar's information-only bulletin JTB00379NAS1 (September 2014) covers lamp condensation on 2010-onward XJ (X351), treats light misting as normal, and says pools of water indicate the lamp's sealing has been compromised.

On the 2005-2009 X350 XJ 2.7 diesel the twin EGR valves and the plastic inlet 'Y-piece' clog with soot. A valve stuck open feeds carbon back into the intake, restricts airflow and triggers 'Restricted Performance' limp mode; a valve stuck or leaking oil has been linked by owners and specialists to turbocharger bearing failure, and a replacement turbo will fail again if the EGR is not fixed at the same time. Threads on the XJ, XF and Discovery 3/Range Rover Sport (same engine) all document the same pattern.

Owners on XJ (X351) forums describe one or both of the powered fabric sunblinds under the panoramic roof stopping partway, jamming, sagging or refusing to move, sometimes with a thumping, clicking or whirring motor. Owners point to broken plastic guide clips or the blind coming detached from its sliders, and in some cases a failed blind motor. These reports come from owners of 2010-2019 Jaguar XJ (X351) cars with the panoramic roof, including the 2016 XJ R-Sport when so equipped. This is not a recall or bulletin.